Support apparatus usable with electrical enclosure

ABSTRACT

A support apparatus is usable with an electrical enclosure to provide support to retain a cover portion of the electrical enclosure in proximity to a cabinet portion of the electrical enclosure. The support apparatus includes a shank having a hook-shaped retention element situated at an end thereof that is configured to provide vertical support to the cover portion. The support apparatus can further include a second hook-shaped retention element at an opposite end of the shank that is configured to rest upon an upturned lip of the cabinet portion, or the shank can potentially be affixed to the cabinet portion. Slots can additionally be provided in the cabinet portion, the cover portion, or both to additionally provide horizontal alignment of the cover portion with the cabinet portion.

BACKGROUND Field

The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to electricalswitching equipment and, more particularly, to a support apparatususable to support a cover portion of an electrical enclosure inproximity with a cabinet portion of the electrical enclosure.

Related Art

Numerous types of electrical switchgear are known in the relevant art.In certain applications, one or more line conductors are connected withcircuit interrupters that are, in turn, connected with various loads. Inorder to limit access by people, animals, and the like to the exposedportions of the line and load conductors and the circuit interrupters,an electrical enclosure such as a load center, a switchgear panel, orthe like is employed. Such electrical enclosures typically include abox-shaped cabinet portion to which the circuit interrupters are mountedand which has knockouts on one or more of its sides in order to receivethe line and load conductors therethrough and into electrical connectionwith the circuit interrupters. Such an electrical enclosure typicallyalso includes a cover portion that covers the interior regions of thecabinet portion and that encloses within the interior region the exposedportions of the line and load conductors and their connections with thecircuit interrupters. After installation of the cover portion, typicallyonly the operating handles of the circuit interrupters can be accessedwithout removing the cover portion from the enclosure portion.

While such electrical enclosures have been generally effective for theirintended purposes, they have not been without limitation. For example,depending upon the current carrying capability of the electricalenclosure and the quantity of circuit interrupters the electricalenclosure is intended to accommodate, the electrical enclosure can berelatively tall and the cover portion can be likewise tall andrelatively heavy and difficult for a technician to maneuver. Suchelectrical enclosures typically include a set of holes in the coverportion that are alignable with another set of holes in the cabinetportion, with the holes being configured to receive fasteners such asscrews and the like therein to retain the cover portion on the cabinetportion. In order to install such a cover portion on a cabinet portion,the technician is required to lift the cover portion and to manipulateit into a position aligned with the cabinet portion, with the holes onthe cover portion being aligned with the corresponding holes on thecabinet portion. After alignment has been achieved, the technician mustinstall the fasteners in the aligned holes of the cover portion and thecabinet portion while maintaining such alignment. Depending upon thesize of the electrical enclosure and other considerations, the coverportion can be heavy and difficult to manipulate, which makes alignmentof the holes in the cover portion with those of the cabinet portiondifficult and makes even more difficult the retention of the coverportion in such a position to enable installation of the fasteners intothe holes. Moreover, most electrical enclosures are installed at roughlychest height, at which height a relatively tall cover portion can becomedifficult to control. It thus would be desired to provide a solution tothese and other problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an improved support apparatus is usable withan electrical enclosure to provide support to retain a cover portion ofthe electrical enclosure in proximity to a cabinet portion of theelectrical enclosure. The support apparatus includes a shank having ahook-shaped retention element situated at an end thereof that isconfigured to provide vertical support to the cover portion. The supportapparatus can further include another hook-shaped retention element atan opposite end of the shank that is configured to rest upon an upturnedlip of the cabinet portion, or the shank can potentially be affixed tothe cabinet portion. Slots can additionally be provided in the cabinetportion, the cover portion, or both to additionally provide horizontalalignment of the cover portion with the cabinet portion.

In view of the foregoing, an aspect of the disclosed and claimed conceptis to provide an improved support apparatus that is usable with anelectrical enclosure to provide support to the cover portion and tothereby facilitate installation of the cover portion onto the cabinetportion.

Another aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to provide animproved electrical enclosure apparatus that includes an electricalenclosure and a support apparatus wherein the support apparatusfacilitates installation of a cover portion of the electrical enclosureonto a cabinet portion of the electrical enclosure.

A further aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to facilitatethe installation of a cover portion of an electrical enclosure onto acabinet portion of the electrical enclosure to enclose exposedelectrical conductors therein.

Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is toprovide an improved support apparatus structured to be cooperable withan electrical enclosure having a cabinet portion and a cover portion,the cabinet portion having a base panel, a number of walls extendingfrom a periphery of the base panel, and a number of upturned lips, atleast a first upturned lip of the number of upturned lips extending fromat least a first wall of the number of walls and being disposed oppositethe base panel. the support apparatus can be generally stated asincluding a shank, a first retention element situated on the shank andbeing structured to be disposed on the at least first upturned lip, anda second retention element disposed on the shank, the second retentionelement being structured to receive an edge of the cover portion and toprovide vertical support to the cover portion.

Another aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to provide animproved electrical enclosure, the general nature of which can be statedto include a cabinet portion, a cover portion structured to be situatedon the cabinet portion, the cabinet portion having a base panel, anumber of walls extending from a periphery of the base panel, and anumber of upturned lips, at least a first upturned lip of the number ofupturned lips extending from at least a first wall of the number ofwalls and being disposed opposite the base panel, the cabinet portionfurther comprising a support apparatus that comprises a retentionelement that is structured to receive an elongated edge of the coverportion and that is structured to provide vertical support to the coverportion, the support apparatus being co-formed with and extending awayfrom at least one of a wall of the number of walls and an upturned lipof the number of upturned lips.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the disclosed and claimed concept can begained from the following Description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved support apparatus inaccordance with a first embodiment of the disclosed and claimed concept;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an improved electrical enclosureapparatus in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept thatincludes an electrical enclosure and the support apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective depiction of a cabinet portion of the electricalenclosure of FIG. 2 with a pair of the support apparatuses situated onan upturned lip of the cabinet portion;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a cover portion of the electricalenclosure of FIG. 2 being received on the pair of support apparatuses ofFIG. 4 in a position vertically aligned with the cabinet portion;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, except depicting the cover portiontranslated in a horizontal direction from the perspective of FIG. 6 onthe pair of support apparatuses to achieve horizontal alignment of thecover portion and the cabinet portion;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an improved support apparatus inaccordance with a second embodiment of the disclosed and claimedconcept;

FIG. 8A is an exploded perspective view of an improved electricalenclosure apparatus in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concepthaving an electrical enclosure in accordance with the disclosed andclaimed concept in combination with a pair of the support apparatuses ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 8B is a view similar to FIG. 8A, except depicting a cover portionof the electrical enclosure situated on the pair of support apparatusesand installed on a cabinet portion of the electrical enclosure;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view as taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8B;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another electrical enclosure upon whichan improved support apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment ofthe disclosed and claimed concept is situated;

FIG. 11 is sectional view as taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of an improved electricalenclosure apparatus in accordance with a fourth embodiment of thedisclosed and claimed concept;

FIG. 13 is a view of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 12 in a partiallyassembled condition;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view as taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of an improved electricalenclosure apparatus in accordance with a fifth embodiment of thedisclosed and claimed concept;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 15 in anassembled condition; and

FIG. 17 is a sectional view as taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DESCRIPTION

An improved support apparatus 4 is depicted generally in FIG. 1 and isdepicted at least in part in each of FIGS. 2-6. The support apparatus 4is usable with an electrical enclosure 8 (FIG. 2) of a type having acabinet portion 12, a cover portion 16, and a number of fasteners 20. Asemployed herein, the expression “a number of” and variations thereofshall refer broadly to any non-zero quantity, including a quantity ofone. The fastener 20 are configured to attach the cover portion 16 tothe cabinet portion 12 to provide an enclosed area within which exposedportions of a number of circuit interrupters (not expressly depictedherein) and a number of electrical conductors (not expressly depictedherein) are enclosed. The support apparatus 4 and the electricalenclosure 8 together can be said to form an improved electricalenclosure apparatus 24 in accordance with the disclosed and claimedconcept.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the support apparatus 4 can be said to includea plate-like shank 28, a first retention element 32 situated at a firstend of the shank 28, and a second retention element 36 situated at asecond, opposite end of the shank 28. The first and second retentionelements 32 and 36 are generally hook-shaped and protrude in oppositedirections from the shank 28. The shank 28 is plate-like, meaning thatits width and length are substantially greater than its thickness, withthe shank 28 having a first face 40 and a second face 44 that face inopposite directions. The first retention element 32 can be said toprotrude in a direction generally away from the first face 40 and thesecond retention element 36 can be said to protrude in a directiongenerally away from the second face 44, whereby the first and secondretention elements 32 and 36 protrude in opposite directions from theshank 28 at opposite ends thereof.

As can be understood from FIG. 1, the first retention element 32 can besaid to include a support element 48 and an abutment element 52, withthe support element 48 protruding from the shank 28, and with theabutment element 52 extending from the support element 48. In thedepicted exemplary embodiment, the abutment element 52 has anindentation formed therein that is engageable with a portion of thecabinet portion 12, as will be set forth in greater detail below. In thedepicted exemplary embodiment, the support element 48 is orientedsubstantially perpendicular to the shank 28, although in otherembodiments the orientation of the support element 48 with respect tothe shank 28 and its shape can be different without departing from thepresent concept. The abutment element 52 overlies at least a portion ofthe shank 28.

As can further be seen in FIG. 1, the second retention element 36includes a support element 56 that extends from the shank 28 and anabutment element 60 that extends from the support element 56. In thedepicted exemplary embodiment, the support element 56 is slightly curvedbut extends generally perpendicularly from the shank 28. The abutmentelement 60 overlies at least a portion of the shank 28.

As can be understood from FIG. 4, the cabinet portion 12 can be said toinclude a base panel 64, a plurality of walls 68A, 68B, 68C, and 68Dthat extend from a periphery of the base panel 64, and a set of upturnedlips 72A, 72B, 72C, and 72D that extend from the walls 68A, 68B, 68C,and 68D, respectively, and that are situated opposite and overlying thebase panel 64. As employed herein, the expression “upturned” is intendedto refer to a formation methodology wherein one structure is formed toat least partially overlie another structure, and the “up” portion ofthe expression “upturned” is thus not intended to be limited to any“upward” direction or other direction. In the depicted exemplaryembodiment, the upturned lips 72A, 72B, 72C, and 72D are orientedsubstantially perpendicular to the walls 68A, 68B, 68C, and 68D, and areoriented substantially parallel with and spaced apart from the basepanel 64.

The cabinet portion 12 has a number of holes 76 formed therein, which,in the depicted exemplary embodiment, are each threaded to threadablyreceive one of the fasteners 20 therein. The holes 76 are depicted inFIG. 4 as being formed generally at the corners of the cabinet portion12 and, more particularly, as being formed in the opposite ends of theupturned lips 72B and 72D. It is understood, however, that the holes 76can be differently positioned without departing from the presentconcept, and the holes 76 likewise can be otherwise formed to cooperatewith other types of fasteners without departing from the presentconcept.

The cover portion 16 is of a rectangular, plate-like configurationhaving a plurality of edges 80A, 80B, 80C, and 80D which together formthe periphery of the cover portion 16. The cover portion 16 has a set ofholes 84 formed therein that are alignable with the holes 76 in thecabinet portion 12 and which are structured to receive the fasteners 20therethrough. The cover portion 16 additionally includes a door 88 thatis openable to permit access by a user to the operating handles of thecircuit interrupters that will be mounted within the electricalenclosure 8.

In use, the support apparatus 4 is employable to facilitate installationof the cover portion 16 to the cabinet portion 12 with the fasteners 20.While FIGS. 1-6 depict in an exemplary fashion a pair of the supportapparatuses 4 being employed to support the cover 16 in proximity to thecabinet portion 12, it is understood that a greater or lesser number ofthe support apparatuses 4 can be employed depending upon the needs ofthe particular application.

In order to install the cover portion 16 on the cabinet portion 12, thesupport apparatuses 4 are received on the cabinet portion 12 byreceiving the upturned lip 72A into the first retention element 32. Sucha condition is depicted generally in FIG. 4 and results in a portion ofthe upturned lip 72A being disposed between the abutment element 52 anda portion of the shank 28 of each such support apparatus 4. The firstretention element 32 may be configured to include a spring tank, as isdepicted in FIG. 1, which compressively retains a portion of theupturned lip 72A between the abutment element 52 and the shank 28,although this is not strictly necessary in order to achieve thebeneficial aspects of the disclosed and claimed concept.

The cover portion 16 is then received on the support apparatuses 4 byreceiving the edge 80A or another appropriate edge of the cover portion16 into engagement with the second retention element 36. In this regard,it can be seen that the first retention elements 32 face in a directiongenerally into an interior region of the cabinet portion 12 whereas thesecond retention elements 36 face in a direction generally oppositethereto, i.e., generally away from the cabinet portion 12, in a fashionthat enables the cover portion 16 to be received on the second retentionelements 36. In this regard, the support element 56 receives the edge80A against it and allows for pivoting movement thereon of the coverportion 16 toward the cabinet portion 12. This enables a technician tohold the cover portion 16 at the edges 80B and 80D with the fingerswrapping around the edges 80B and 80D in order to receive the edge 80Aon the second retention elements 36. The second retention elements 36provide support to the cover portion 16 in a vertical direction from theperspective of FIGS. 5 and 6, and such vertical support permits thetechnician to detach the fingers from the edges 80B and 80D and thensimply push the cover portion 16 toward and into proximity with thecabinet portion 12. In this regard, the expression “vertical” andvariations thereof is intended to refer to a direction opposite thedirection of acceleration due to gravity.

The support apparatuses 4 provide not only vertical support to the coverportion 16 on the cabinet portion 12, but also provide verticalalignment of the holes 84 with the holes 76. That is, and as isindicated generally in FIG. 5, the support apparatuses 4 provide to thecover portion 16 support in a vertical direction from the perspective ofFIGS. 5 and 6, meaning that the support apparatuses 4 retain the coverportion 16 in a given vertical position with respect to the cabinetportion 12. Such a given vertical position is one in which the holes 84are aligned along the vertical direction with the holes 76. As can beseen in FIG. 5, the cover portion 16 is disposed on the supportapparatuses 4 but is offset to the right from the cabinet portion 12. Itcan be seen in FIG. 5 that the holes 84 are offset in a horizontaldirection from the perspective of FIG. 5, meaning that the holes 84 and76 are at the same vertical position and are only spaced apart in ahorizontal direction. As employed herein, the expression “horizontal”and variations thereof shall refer broadly to a direction that isgenerally orthogonal to the vertical direction.

The cover portion 16 can then be translated on the support apparatuses 4in the horizontal direction to order to additionally achieve horizontalalignment between the holes 84 and the holes 76. In FIGS. 5 and 6, thecover portion 16 is translated in a leftward direction on the supportapparatuses 4 to achieve such alignment. Such translation of the coverportion 16 can be said to be in a direction parallel with thelongitudinal extent of the edge 80A. The fasteners 20 can then bereceived in the holes 84 and the holes 76 in order to fasten the coverportion 16 to the cabinet portion 12.

Since the electrical enclosure 8 is configured such that the holes 84and 76 are aligned with another when the edges 80A, 80B, 80C, and 80Dare aligned with the outermost surfaces of the walls 68A, 68B, 68C, and68D, respectively, the support apparatus 4 is configured such that theupper surface from the perspective of FIG. 3 of the support element 48is aligned with the outermost edge of the wall 68A in order to providesuch alignment between the cover portion 16 and the cabinet portion 12.It thus can be seen that the support element 48 is situated generallylower than the outermost edge of the wall 68A when the cover portion 16is installed on the cabinet portion 12.

It can also be seen that the support apparatuses 4 remain in theposition depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 after the cover portion 16 isattached to the cabinet portion 12 with the fasteners 20. That is, thereis no need to attempt to remove the support apparatuses 4 from theelectrical enclosure 8 after such assembly. Rather, the supportapparatuses 4 stay in place to facilitate removal of the cover portion16 from the cabinet portion 12 if it is ever needed. For example, oncethe fasteners 20 are removed from the holes 84 and 76, the supportapparatuses 4 will provide support in the vertical direction withrespect to FIGS. 5 and 6, thereby avoiding, for instance, dropping ofthe cover portion 16 as the last of the fasteners 20 is removed from theholes 84 and 76. The support apparatuses 4 thus advantageouslyfacilitate assembly and disassembly of the electrical enclosure 8.

An improved support apparatus 104 in accordance with a second embodimentof the disclosed and claimed concept is depicted generally in FIG. 7 andis depicted at least in part in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9. The supportapparatus 104 is employable in connection with an improved electricalenclosure 108 having a cabinet portion 112 and a cover portion 116 toresult in an improved electrical enclosure apparatus 124 in accordancewith the disclosed and claimed concept. The support apparatus 104 issimilar to the support apparatus 4 in that it includes a shank 128, ahook-shaped first retention element 132 and a hook-shaped secondretention element 136. As can be seen in FIG. 7, however, the firstretention element 132 includes a support element 148 and an abutmentelement 152 wherein the abutment element 152 has a hole 154 formedtherein. Moreover, the electrical enclosure 108 is similar to theelectrical enclosure 8 in that the cabinet portion 112 includes a basepanel 162 from the periphery of which a plurality of walls 168A, 168B,168C, and 168D extend, and from which in turn extend a plurality ofupturned lips 172A, 172B, 172C, and 172D, respectively. However, theupturned lip 172A additionally includes a number of dimples 174. Eachdimple 174 is receivable in the hole 154 of one of the supportapparatuses 104. As can be understood from FIG. 9, the dimples 174protrude from the upturned lip 172A in a direction generally toward theinterior region of the cabinet portion 112, although other dimpleshaving other configurations can be employed without departing from thepresent concept.

As can be understood from FIG. 9, the support apparatuses 104 arereceived on the upturned lip 172A such that the dimples 174 are receivedin the holes 154, whereby the dimples 174 received in the holes 154resist movement of the support apparatuses 104 in a direction parallelwith the plane of the upturned lip 172A, i.e., in the vertical andhorizontal directions and in directions therebetween. Such retention ofthe support apparatuses 104 in given positions on the upturned lip 172Aprior to installation of the cover portion 116 on the second retentionelements 136 facilitates assembly of the electrical enclosure 108 for anumber of reasons. For instance, the technician who is handling theelectrical enclosure 108 need not give consideration to where thesupport apparatuses 104 would most desirably be placed since the dimples174 in the depicted exemplary embodiment are apparent from the front ofthe cabinet portion 112 as is depicted generally in FIG. 8A, and thedimples 174 establish the positions of the support apparatuses 104 onthe cabinet portion 112. Also, the retention offered by the dimples 174received in the holes 154 resists movement of the support apparatuses104 on the upturned lip 172, such that if the cover portion 116 isinserted into one of the second retention elements 136 at an anglewhereby the one of the second retention elements 136 is engaged by thecover portion 116 prior to engagement of the other second retentionelement 136, the one retention element 136 will be resisted from slidingalong the upturned lip 172A. The dimples 174 thus provide horizontalsupport to the retention elements 136. Other advantages will be apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art.

It is also noted that the support apparatuses 104 can potentially beemployed on the electrical enclosure 108 whereby the holes 154 willsimply go unused, and the support element 148 received on the upturnedlip 172A will still provide vertical support to the cover portion 116.In this regard, it is also noted that the support apparatus 4 can beemployed on the electrical enclosure 108, for instance, by itself or inaddition to the support apparatuses 104, such as if additional supportof the cover portion 116 is needed. Moreover, the support apparatuses104 could be used on the electrical enclosure 8, which does not includeany such dimples. Again, while two of the support apparatuses 104 and anequal number of dimples 174 are depicted in the exemplary embodiment ofthe electrical enclosure apparatus 124, it is understood that a greateror lesser number can be employed without departing from the presentconcept.

An improved support apparatus 204 in accordance with a third embodimentof the disclosed and claimed concept is depicted generally in FIGS. 10and 11. The support apparatus 204 is employable with an electricalenclosure 208 having a cabinet portion 212 and a cover portion 216 andwhich, when combined with the support apparatus 204, forms an improvedelectrical enclosure apparatus 224 in accordance with the disclosed andclaimed concept. The electrical enclosure 208 is similar to theelectrical enclosure 8 except that the cover portion 216 has a periphery280 that extends, i.e., protrudes, beyond the cabinet portion 212 on allsides thereof. The cabinet portion 212 includes a base panel 264 fromwhose periphery extends a set of walls 268 and from which, in turn,extends a set of upturned lips 272. However, and as can be understoodfrom FIGS. 10 and 11, the cover portion 216 installed on the cabinetportion 212 extends beyond the set of walls 268 to form a flange orescutcheon that is usable to serve as trim between the cabinet portion212 and, for instance, a cavity in a structural wall of a buildingwithin which the cabinet portion 212 is installed.

In order to accommodate the greater distance between the set of walls268 and the periphery 280 of the cover portion 216 that extendstherepast, the support apparatus 204 is configured to include a shank228 that is relatively longer than the shank 28. While the supportapparatus 204 further includes a first retention element 232 and asecond retention element 236, both of which are hook-shaped, the firstand second retention elements 232 and 236 are positioned relativelyfarther away from one another than the first and second retentionelements 32 and 36 since the shank 228 is relatively longer. Therelatively longer shank 228 enables the support apparatus 204 to providevertical support to the cover portion 216 to enable its installation onthe cabinet portion 212 in substantially the same fashion as the supportapparatus 4.

An improved support apparatus 304 in accordance with a fourth embodimentof the disclosed and claimed concept is depicted in use in conjunctionwith an improved electrical enclosure 308 (FIGS. 12-14) that is likewisein accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept. The supportapparatus 304 is similar to the support apparatus 4, and the electricalenclosure 308 has similarities to the electrical enclosure 208 in thatthe electrical enclosure 308 includes a cabinet portion 312 and a coverportion 316 wherein the periphery of the cover portion 316 protrudesbeyond the cabinet portion 312. Again, the support apparatus 304 and theelectrical enclosure 308 can be said to together form an improvedelectrical enclosure apparatus 324.

The support apparatus 304 includes a shank 328, a first retentionelement 332, and a second retention element 336, all of which aresimilar to the shank 28, the first retention element 32, and the secondretention element 36 of the support apparatus 4. However, the supportapparatus 304 is cooperable with alignment structures that are formed onthe cabinet portion 312 and the cover portion 316 in order to facilitateassembly of the electrical enclosure 308.

As can be understood from FIG. 12, the cabinet portion 312 includes abase panel 364 from whose periphery extend a plurality of walls 368A,368B, 368C, and 368D from which, in turn, extend a plurality of upturnedlips 372A, 372B, 372C, and 372D that are oriented parallel with andspaced from the base panel 364. The cover portion 316 includes aplurality of edges 380A, 380B, 380C, and 380D which protrude beyond thewalls 368A, 368B, 368C, and 368D, respectively, when the cover portion316 is attached to the cabinet portion 312.

It is noted, however, that the upturned lip 372A has a pair of notches392 formed in an edge thereof, and the edge 380A of the cover portion316 likewise has a pair of notches 396 formed therein. As can beunderstood from FIGS. 12-14, the notches 392 receive the first retentionelements 332 therein and thus resist movement of the support apparatuses304 in a direction parallel with the longitudinal extent of the upturnedlip 372A.

With the first retention elements 332 received in the notches 392, thecover portion 316 can be received on the second retention elements 336whereby the support apparatuses 304 will provide vertical support to thecover portion 316 with respect to the cabinet portion 312. However, thesecond retention elements 336 are receivable in the notches 396 as isdepicted in FIGS. 13 and 14. The reception of the second retentionelements 336 in the notches 396 provides both vertical and advantageoushorizontal alignment of the cover portion 316 with respect to thecabinet portion 312. Moreover, the second retention elements 336received in the notches 396 resists movement of the cover portion 316with respect to the cabinet portion 312 along a direction parallel withthe longitudinal extent of the edge 380A. The support apparatuses 304received in the notches 392 and 396 thus provide both vertical andhorizontal retention and alignment, which further facilitatesinstallation of the cover portion 316 on the cabinet portion 312. While,as set forth above, the electrical enclosure 308 is similar to theelectrical enclosure 208, it is understood that the support apparatuses304 can be employed with, by way of example, the electrical enclosure 8,although the shank would likely need to be shortened in order to providealignment between the cover portion and the cabinet portion in theinstance of notches being formed in both.

It is also noted that advantageous results can be obtained by providingonly the notches 392 or only the notches 396, depending upon the needsof the particular application. It is also understood that the notches392 could be replaced with, by way of example, the dimples 174 of theelectrical enclosure 108. Other variations will be apparent. It isunderstood, however, that the vertical and horizontal support andalignment provided by the support apparatuses 304 received in thenotches 392 and 396 facilitate installation the cover portion 316 on thecabinet portion 312.

An improved support apparatus 404 in accordance with a fifth embodimentof the disclosed and claimed concept is depicted generally in FIGS.15-17. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the support apparatus 404is a part of an electrical enclosure 408 which together form an improvedelectrical enclosure apparatus 424. More particularly, the electricalenclosure 408 includes a cabinet portion 412 and a cover portion 416.The cabinet portion 412 has a base panel 464 from which extend aplurality of walls 468A, 468B, 468C, and 468D and from which, in turn,protrude a plurality of upturned lips 472A, 472B, 472C, and 472D.However, instead of providing the support apparatus 404 as a componentseparate from the electrical enclosure 408, the support apparatuses 404in the depicted exemplary embodiment are formed from the upturned lip472A by forming in the upturned lip 472A a set of cuts 474 that serve toform a cutout region in the upturned lip 472A and that separate aportion of the upturned lip 472A from the remainder thereof, with theportion being bendable as indicated generally in FIGS. 15 and 17 to formthe support apparatuses 404.

The support apparatuses 404 include a shank 428 that extends from andthat is co-formed with the wall 468A or the upturned lip 472A or both.The support apparatus 404 can be said to include a first retentionelement 432, which is the portion of the support apparatus 404 thatextends from the upturned lip 472A and/or the wall 468A, and furtherincludes a second retention element 436 at an opposite end of the shank428. The width of the cutout that is formed in the upturned lip 472A isroughly equal to the width of the support apparatus 404. The firstretention element 432 can be said to include a connection element 450that takes the place of the support element 48 and the abutment element52 that are used in connection with the support apparatus 4. Theconnection element 450 is co-formed with the cabinet portion 412 and, byway of example, can be formed by forming the cuts 474 and bending theplate of material from which the cabinet portion 412 is formed toadditionally form the support apparatuses 404. Nevertheless, otherattachment methodologies such as welding, brazing, bolting, and the likecan be employed without departing from the present concept.

In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the support apparatus 4 is formedfrom only a portion of the upturned lip 472A, meaning that the exemplarycuts 474 extend less than fully through the width of the upturned lip472A and thus are spaced from the wall 468A. It is understood, however,that in other embodiments the upturned lip 472A can be cut to a greaterextent if a larger support apparatus 404 is needed, such as inconjunction with an electrical enclosure such as the electricalenclosure 208. It is also understood that the cabinet portion 412 andspecifically the support apparatuses 404 that are formed as a partthereof are cooperable with, by way of example, the cover portion 316 orthe cover portion 16 depending upon the needs of the particularapplication.

By configuring the support apparatuses 404 to be affixed to the cabinetportion 412 and in the exemplary depicted embodiment co-formedtherewith, the support apparatuses 404 are horizontally fixed withrespect to the cabinet portion 412, such as in the fashion of thesupport apparatuses 104 engaged with the dimples 174 and the supportapparatuses 304 received in the notches 392. The co-forming of thesupport apparatuses 404 with the electrical enclosure 408 enables atechnician to easily install the cover portion 416 onto the cabinetportion 412 by receiving the edge 480A in the second retention elements436 and by pivoting the cover portion 416 into proximity with thecabinet portion 412. The support apparatuses 404 provide verticalsupport in such a situation and enable facilitated horizontal andvertical alignment of the cover portion 416 with the cabinet portion412. This facilitates assembly of the electrical enclosure 408.

It is emphasized that many of the features of the various embodimentsset forth herein are employable in conjunction with other features ofother embodiments set forth herein in virtually any combination. Thevarious embodiments of the support apparatus 4, 104, 204, 304, and 404thus advantageously facilitate assembly of the electrical enclosures 8,108, 208, 308, and 408, which is desirable due to savings in money,time, and effort. Other advantageous will be apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described indetail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and alternatives to those details could be developed inlight of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, theparticular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only andnot limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the fullbreadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A support apparatus structured to be cooperable withan electrical enclosure having a cabinet portion and a cover portion,the cabinet portion having a base panel, a number of walls extendingfrom a periphery of the base panel, and a number of upturned lips, atleast a first upturned lip of the number of upturned lips extending fromat least a first wall of the number of walls and being disposed oppositethe base panel, the support apparatus comprising: a shank; a firstretention element situated on the shank and being structured to bedisposed on the at least first upturned lip; a second retention elementdisposed on the shank, the second retention element being structured toreceive an edge of the cover portion and to provide vertical support tothe cover portion; and wherein the first retention element is structuredto compressively engage the at least first upturned lip between thefirst retention element and the shank.
 6. (canceled)
 7. An electricalenclosure apparatus comprising: an electrical enclosure comprising acabinet portion and a cover portion; the cabinet portion having a basepanel, a number of walls extending from a periphery of the base panel,and a number of upturned lips, at least a first upturned lip of thenumber of upturned lips extending from at least a first wall of thenumber of walls and being disposed opposite the base panel; a supportapparatus comprising: a shank, a first retention element situated on theshank and being receivable on the at least first upturned lip, and asecond retention element disposed on the shank, an edge of the coverportion being receivable on the second retention element to providevertical support to the cover portion; and wherein at least one of theat least first upturned lip and the cover portion has at least a firstnotch formed in an elongated edge thereof, the at least first notchbeing structured to receive therein at least a portion of the supportapparatus and being structured to resist movement of the supportapparatus in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of theedge.
 8. An electrical enclosure apparatus comprising: an electricalenclosure comprising a cabinet portion and a cover portion; the cabinetportion having a base panel, a number of walls extending from aperiphery of the base panel, and a number of upturned lips at least afirst upturned lip of the number of upturned lips extending from atleast a first wall of the number of walls and being disposed oppositethe base panel; a support apparatus comprising: a shank, a firstretention element situated on the shank and being receivable on the atleast first upturned lip, and a second retention element disposed on theshank, an edge of the cover portion being receivable on the secondretention element to provide vertical support to the cover portion; andthe at least first upturned lip having a notch formed in an elongatededge thereof that is structured to receive therein at least a portion ofthe first retention element and to resist movement of the supportapparatus in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of theedge; the cover portion having another notch formed in an elongatedother edge thereof that is structured to receive therein at leastanother portion of the second retention element whereby the supportapparatus is structured to position the cover portion in horizontalalignment with the cabinet portion and to resist movement of the coverportion in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of theother edge.
 9. The electrical enclosure apparatus of claim 8 wherein thecover portion comprises a number of fasteners, wherein an upturned lipof the number of upturned lips has a number of first holes formedtherein, and wherein the cover portion has a number of second holesformed therein, at least some of the number of first holes and at leastsome of the number of second holes being aligned and being structured toreceive therein a fastener of the number of fasteners when the at leasta portion of the first retention element is received in the notch andwhen the at least a portion of the second retention element is receivedin the another notch. 10-11. (canceled)
 12. An electrical enclosureapparatus comprising: an electrical enclosure comprising a cabinetportion and a cover portion; the cabinet portion having a base panel, anumber of walls extending from a periphery of the base panel, and anumber of upturned lips, at least a first upturned lip of the number ofupturned lips extending from at least a first wall of the number ofwalls and being disposed opposite the base panel; a support apparatuscomprising: a shank, a first retention element situated on the shank andbeing receivable on the at least first upturned lip, and a secondretention element disposed on the shank, an edge of the cover portionbeing receivable on the second retention element to provide verticalsupport to the cover portion; wherein the cover portion comprises anumber of fasteners, wherein an upturned lip of the number of upturnedlips has a number of first holes formed therein, and wherein the coverportion has a number of second holes formed therein, at least some ofthe number of first holes and at least some of the number of secondholes being vertically aligned when the first retention element isdisposed on the at least first upturned lip and when the secondretention element receives the edge of the cover portion; wherein theedge of the cover portion received in the second retention element isslidably received in the second retention element, the cover portionbeing structured to be slidable on the second retention element alongthe longitudinal extent of the edge to horizontally align at least someof the number of first holes with at least some of the number of secondholes to enable at least some of the number of fasteners to be receivedtherein; and wherein a periphery of the cover portion is structured toprotrude beyond a periphery of the cabinet portion when the at leastsome of the number of first holes and the at least some of the number ofsecond holes are horizontally aligned, and wherein at least a portion ofthe shank and at least a portion of the second retention elementprotrude beyond the periphery of the cabinet portion when the firstretention element is disposed on the at least first upturned lip. 13-14.(canceled)
 15. An electrical enclosure comprising: a cabinet portion; acover portion structured to be situated on the cabinet portion; thecabinet portion having a base panel, a number of walls extending from aperiphery of the base panel, and a number of upturned lips, at least afirst upturned lip of the number of upturned lips extending from atleast a first wall of the number of walls and being disposed oppositethe base panel, the cabinet portion further comprising a supportapparatus that comprises a retention element that is structured toreceive an elongated edge of the cover portion and that is structured toprovide vertical support to the cover portion, the support apparatusextending away from at least one of a wall of the number of walls and anupturned lip of the number of upturned lips.
 16. The electricalenclosure of claim 15 wherein a wall of the number of walls has a cutoutformed therein, the support apparatus being situated adjacent thecutout.
 17. The electrical enclosure of claim 16 wherein the wall of thenumber of walls has an elongated edge in which the cutout is formed, thesupport apparatus extending away from the at least one of a wall of thenumber of walls and an upturned lip of the number of upturned lips in adirection transverse to the longitudinal extent of the edge.
 18. Theelectrical enclosure of claim 17 wherein the cutout has a width alongthe longitudinal extent of the edge, the support apparatus havinganother width along the longitudinal extent of the edge, the width andthe another width being substantially equal in size.
 19. The electricalenclosure of claim 15 wherein the support apparatus comprises a shankthat extends away from the at least one of a wall of the number of wallsand an upturned lip of the number of upturned lips, the retentionelement being situated at a free end of the shank.
 20. The electricalenclosure of claim 19 wherein a periphery of the cover portion isstructured to protrude beyond a periphery of the cabinet portion whenthe cover portion is situated on the cabinet portion, and wherein atleast a portion of the shank and at least a portion of the retentionelement protrude beyond the periphery of the cabinet portion.